[Steroid hormone receptors in lung cancer tissue]

Receptors to estrogens (ER), progesterone (PR), glucocorticoids (GR) and androgens (AR) were assayed in 44 lung cancer patients to evaluate hormonal sensitivity of tumor. In 30 cases, active forms of GR were additionally measured by DNA-cellulose adsorption method. GR appeared to be most frequent (65%). Tumors contained PR and ER in 22% and 16% respectively, but failed to reveal AR. A correlation was established between stage and GR positivity, with 83 +/- 8% of GR-positive tumors observed at stage T1-3N0M0 as compared to 50 +/- 12% at stage T1-3N 1-2M0 (P less than or equal to 0.05). As few as 55% (11 out of 20) of GR-positive tumors revealed receptors capable of activation and interaction with DNA-cellulose. These tumors alone, one third of tumors studied, are likely to respond to glucocorticoid treatment.